Process of producing gas.



No. 887,989. PATENTED MAY 19, 1908. G. J. WEBER.

PROCESS OF PRODUCING GAS APiLIOATIOH PILED MAB.29.1904.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

WITNESSES: I v INVENTOR.

4 fla/Zkm.

{fly ATTORNEY.

GEORGE .I. WEBER, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

PROCESS OF PRODUCING GAS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 19, 1908.

Application filed March 29, 1904. Serial No. 200,524.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, GEORGE J. WEBER, a citizen of the United States, residing at KansasCity in the county of Jackson and State of Missouri, have invented new and useful Improvements in Processes of Producing Gas for the Production of Power, of which the following is a specification.

' My invention relates to improvements in process for producing gas for the production of power.

My invention is employed in connection with the running of a gas engine of the explosive type and which is driven by the gaseous products formed from burning fuel in a gas producer. A portion of the combustible ingredients are not .consumed when the charge is exploded in the engine cylinder, and

- the full efficiency of the fuel is therefore not obtained as the engine is ordinarily used.

The object of my invention is to mix steam I .with the exploded gaseous products taken from the engine cylinder and forcethe mixed steam and exploded gaseous products through the burning fuel in the producer, the steam being mixed with the exploded products prior to the introduction of the said ingredients into the producer chamber, and prior to access of air to either the steam or burned products. By mixing the steam with the exploded gaseous products immediately after the release of the products from the engine cylinder, and before air has contact therewith, the steam is decomposed by the burned products and forms therewith and with the unburned portions a combustible gas which passing through the producer is further enriched by the carbon therein after which it passes with the fresh gas formed in the pro' ducer to the en ine cylinder for use in propelling the engine. combined with the exhaust products combines with the air and enters the producer to form combustible gas in the ordinary manner.

In addition to passing the mixed steam andexhaust gas through theburning fuel, a

, portion may be combined with the gaseous products after the same comes from the producer. Thus with the employment of my process the unburned portions of an exploded charge are caused to unite'with the steam-to form combustible gas that may be employed again for producing power. by decomposing the steam by contact with the highly heated exhaust gas, that partof Such steam as is not direct contact with the exhaust gas.

Furthermore,

the steam which does not combine with the unburned portions is in the best possible condition for uniting with the products of the burning fuel for forming highly combustible gas. This is furthermore accomplished in my process without cutting down the temperature in the producer chamber, thus permitting the use of a large amount of steam without harmfully affecting, but increasing instead, the combustion in the producer chamber.

M invention provides further the utilizing of t e gas engine for forcing air and the mixed steam and exhaust'gas through the burning fuel and making the process continuous.-

My invention provides further the subjecting water to contact with the highly heated exhaust gas thus forming steam which is permitted to mix with the exhaust gas, the mixture being then forced through burning fuel to form the gas for the production of mechanical energy in the gas engine or otherwise.

My invention provides further the heating of waterby absorbing out of contact the heat from the exhaust gas, then subjecting the heated water to direct contact with the exhaust gas thus forming steam which is mixed with the exhaust gas and the mixture forced through burning fuel.

My invention provides further the cooling and compressing the combustible gas prior to exploding the same in the gas engine, and

formed by forcing the mixed steam and ex-,

haust gas through the burning fuel.

Other novel features are hereinafter fully described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings which illustrate my invention, Figure 1 is a vertical sectional viewof an apparatus adapted to carry into effect my improved rocess, the view being taken on the dotted ine ab of Fig. 2. Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same apparatus.- Fig. 3 is a vertical sectional view of a modified form of apparatus employed to heat the water prior to its being subjected to Fi 4 is a horizontal section taken on the doffed line cd of Fig. 3.

Similar characters of reference indicate similar parts.

The apparatus required to carry into effect my process comprises a gas producer, a cooling and purifying mechanism for receiving the gaseous products. delivered from the prothe door.

ducer, a gas engine connected with the cool-. ing and purifying mechanism, and means for forming the steam, mixing it with the exhaust gas and delivering the mixture to the 5 gas producer.

'1 denotes the vertical tubular shell of the gas producer provided with a refractory lining 2 and a feed opening located in the upper end of the producer, and indicated by 3. A removable closure 4 is provided for the opening 3. Near the lower end of the producer chamber is provided a transverse grate 5, on

which rests the fuel 6, comprising any suitable carbonaceous fuel, such as coal, bituminous or anthracite, charcoal, coke, wood,

etc. In the producer chamber below the grate 5, in the side wall, are one or more doors 7 havin each an air inlet opening 8 which can be c osed by a closure 9 plvoted to To produce initial combustion in the producer, I provide in the producer wall 'below the grate 5, an air inlet openin 10,

through which air may be forced by a and operated air pump 11, of any ordinary pate tern. The opening 10 may be closed by a times'by means of a transverse cylindrical roe tatable valve 16 rovided with a.transverse I hole therethroug denoted by 17, through which the gaseous products escape when the valve *16 is properly positioned. The lower end of the chamber 15 is provided with an openin for the discharge of ashes, dust, or dirt collecting in the chamber 15.

such materials from the chamber 15, the lower 0 ening is closed by a transverse cylindrica rotatable valve 18, provided with a hollow space 19, and having in its wall a hole 20, through which dust and similar materials may enter the hollow space 19, when the valve 18, is positioned as shown in Fig. 1. When it is desired to empty the dust in the '55 s ace 19, the valve 18 is rotated to a position drawing. a

Adjacent the chamber 15 is the-vertical tubular coolin and purifyin chamber 21, the upper and Tower ends of w ich are closed and in the inside of which are provided one or more transverse perforated horizontal partitions 22, upon which are placed coke, charcoal, shavings or similar materials, de-

noted by 23. In the upper end of the chamametrically opposite the one shown in the .ber 21.

Excepting at such times as it isdesired to discharge ber 21 is provided a vertical tubular con- I ductor 24, through which Water may be fed into the chamber 21.' In the said conductor 24 is provided a horizontal, cylindrical, rotatable valve 25, for closing the said conductor 24, and provided with a' transverse hole 26, which, when the valve 25 is properly positioned, registers with the opening 1n the conductor 24 so that water may be poured therethrough into the chamber 21, for the urpose of moistening the materials 23, and or pro-- viding in the chamber 21 a supply of water 27, for washing, cooling and purifying the gas delivered from the producer. An overow pipe 28, has'its up er end extending through the side wall of t e chamber 21, below the lower partition 22. The lower end of the pipe 28 is inserted in a vessel 29 which, receiving water passing through the pipe 28, forms thereby a .water seal for preventing inlet of air to or escape of gas from the cham- A tubular conductor 30, has its up: per end connected to the upper part of the chamber 15 and its lower end extending *through the side wall of the chamber 21 and below the surface of the water 27 held in said chamber.

31 denotes the upper portion of a' working cylinder of a gas engine of the vertical type.

32 denotes the piston of the gas engine, 33 the head of the cylinder provided with a 5 water space 34, and havin a mixing chamber 35 connected by an in ct port 36, with the interior of the cylinder31. The cylinder 31 is provided near its upper end with an exhaust port 37, communicating with a valve chamber 38 divided by a transverse partitlon 39, having therethrough a vertical valve opening, in which is seated the exhaust valve 40, provided with a valve stem 41 on which is mounted rigidly, a collar 42 upon the up per side of which rests the lower end of a coil spring 43, the said spring encircling the stem 41 and having its upper end bearing upon the valve chamber 38. The spring 43 normally holds the exhaust valve 40 against its seat.

44 denotes the horizontal exhaust pipe connected to the valve chamber 38 below the partition 39.

A water conductor 45 has one end connect- 5 ed with the Water space 34 and its lower end connected to the exhaust pipe 44. In the conductor 45 is inserted a valve 46, of any upon the stem 48. The chamber 35 pro- 13 0 In the .30 sures 9 being closed at this time.

' 45 with the piston.

vided with an air inlet 51 and has also connected to it one end of a conductor 52, the other end of which, with the interior of the chamber 21, above the upper partition 22. The charge is exploded in any suitable manner in the cylinder 31, as for instance by ducer chamber below the grate 5. In the, conductor 55 is provided a valve 56 for controlling the flow therethrough. A tubular conductor 57 has one end connected to the conductor 55 and-its other end to the inlet 14. A valve 58 is provided in the conductor 57 to control the flow of gas therethrough.

In carryin into effect my process, the fuel is placed in the producer chamber 1, the closure 4 applied to the feed opening 3, and the fuel ignited. The valve 16 and door 12 are opened and the air pump or, fan 11 operated by hand, thus supplying to the fuel the necessary air for combustion, the doors 7 and clo- When the .fuel is-well ignited, the valve 16 is closed and engine started by withdrawing the piston 32 fromthe head 33, thus drawing in a charge of gas taken through the outlet 18, inlet 14, 35 chamber 15, pipe 30, chamber 21, pipe 52, mixing cham er 35 and inlet port 36. At the same time the air for mixing with the gas is taken in through the'air inlet 51. The piston is then reversed in movement compress- 40 ing the mixed charge of air and gas, after which the compressed charge is ignited. The exploding gas forces -outward the piston 32 thus producing mechanical energy, and imparting motion to the parts connected When the gas is exhausted after exploding, the valve 40 is raised in any ordinary manner by timing mechanism provided for the pur ose and not shown here. The valve 46 is t en opened and the water 5 heated by the exploding char es passes through conductor into the exhaust pipe 44 where it is in direct contact with the highly heated exhaust gas which instantly converts the water into steam a portion of which is decomposed and combines with burned and unburned portions of the exploded charge to form a gas which passing through the conductor 55 enters the producer chamber and passes through the fuel 6 0 by which it is enriched. At this time the fan or pump 11 is then stopped and the closures 9 are opened and air is drawn into the producer and passes through the fuel. The resultant gaseous products pass from the pro- 5 ducer to the mixing chamber 35 as already described, the gas engine being utilized to cause the flow of gas through the apparatus. The valve 58 may be opened and a part of the mixed steam and exhaust gas will pass through the conductor 57 into the inlet 14 where this part of the mixture mixes with the gaseous products coming from the outlet 13 of the producer.

By regulating the valve 58 the proper proportion of gas combining with the gaseous products without passing through the burning fuel maybe obtained.

ny heating the water prior to its admission to the exhaust pipe 44, the temperature of the gas in the pipe 44 is not materially lowered, at least not sufliciently to prevent decomposition of a portion of the steam.

In Figs. 3 and 4 I have illustrated another means for heating the water that is to be made into steam to form gas with the unburned exhaust products. In this form the exhaust valve denoted by 40 is provided.

with a hollow stem 41 in which is disposed a vertical'tube 59 the lower end of which extends through the wall of the stem and in which water may be passed from any convenient source. To the stem 41 outside the exhaust chamber 38 is secured a horizontal pipe 60 to the outer end of which is secured a flexible tube 61 connected to a conductor 62 the upper end of which is connected to and discharges into the exhaust pipe 44. A valve 63 is provided in the conductor 62 to control the flow of water therethrough. In this form, the Water is heated by the exhaust gas having contact with the valve 40. At the same time the valve 41 is cooled.

It will be noted by reference to Fig. 1 that. all of the exhaust gas and steam entering the exhaust pipe 44 does not pass through the conductor 55, but a portion passes out into the atmosphere. The conductor 55 is provided at 'a point above-the pipe 44 with a steam dome 64, the inlet end of which is below the outlet thereof, the outlet being denoted by 65 and the inlet by 66. The function of the steam 'dome is to arrest such steam as becomes condensed into water on the walls of the dome, and prevents such water passing through the conductor 55 into the producer chamber 1 Such water returns into the pipe 44 through the inlet 66, and is then discharged from-the discharge end 67 of the exhaust pipe. Only dry steam and gas thus enters the producer or the con-' ductor 57. A further function of the dome 64 is to arrest such carbonaceous particles as are not combined with the decomposed steam. These uncombined particles fall back through the inlet 66 into the pipe 44 and are dis charged therefrom through the outlet end I 67. The gaseous products coming from the producer must be reduced in temperature efore being used in the engine. This isdone in the chamber 21-. Some of the heat.

of the gaseous products may be employed to heat the combined steam and gas coming through the conductor 55 by carrying the mixture through a pipe 68 one end of which is connected with the conductor between the dome 64 and the valve 56, the other end of the pipe 68 being extended through the side wall of the upper part of the chamber 15, and having its upper end turned downward in the chamber 15. The lower end of this downwardly extending portion of the pipe 68 is preferably plugged and a series. of peripheral holes 69 provided above the plug to permit the mixed steam and exploded gas to be delivered from the pipe 68 in a spray.

If desired, the valve 56 may be entirely closed and all the mixedsteam and exhaust gas be caused to pass through the' pipe 68 into the chamber 1 5. While passing through that portion of the pipe 68 within the chamber 15 the mixture is heated by the gaseous products coming through the inlet 14.. It then passes out of the pipe 68 through the openings 69 and is enriched by the gaseous products with which it mixes in the chamber 15 The'valves 56 and 58 may be regulated so that a portion of the mixture may'pass into the producer and'a portion through the conductor 57 as well as through the pipe 68.

Modifications of my invention may be resorted to without departing from its spirit.

Having thus described my'invention, what I claim and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is

1. The process consisting in first mixing the exhaust gases from a gas engine with steam, then forcing the resulting product and other portion of mixed steam and the gaseous products.

3. The process consisting in first mixing the exhaust gases from a gas engine with. steam, then forcing one portion of the resulting product and air into burning fuel, then mixing with the resulting gaseous products another portion of the mixed exhaust gases and steam, and finally exploding the last resulting gaseous products in the gas engine to form fresh exhaust gases for continuing the process. p

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

' GEORGE J. WEBER.

Witnesses:

WARREN D. HOUSE, HENRY F. ROSE. 

